Anethum graveolens supplementation improves insulin sensitivity and lipid abnormality in type 2 diabetic patients

Background: Using of herbs as complementary medications for treatment of diseases has been prevailed in the world. This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Anethum supplementation on insulin sensitivity, fasting blood glucose (FBS) and lipid profile in type 2 diabetic patients. Methods: This randomized-double blind- placebocontrolled study was conducted on 60 diabetic patients in Tabriz, Iran from January to March 2012. Intervention group received 3.3 g/day powder of Anethum for 8 weeks. Fasting blood glucose, Triglyceride (TG), Total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) levels were assessed by enzymatic colorimetric method at onset and at the end of study. Serum insulin level was determined by ELISA method and HOMA-IR as an index of insulin resistance calculated as fasting concentrations of blood glucose (mg/dL)×fasting insulin (μU/ml) / 405. Results: A significant reduction in insulin level was observed in intervention group at the end of the study (p=0.003). TC and LDL-C decreased significantly at the end of the study (p=0.016, p=0.009, respectively). Changes in HDL-C, TG and HOMA-IR were not apparent. Surprisingly, FBS increased in the intervention group but it was not statistically significant (p=0.142).Conclusion: Supplementation of type 2 diabetic patients with Anethum had beneficial effects on insulin sensitivity and some lipid profiles. Further scientific efforts with large sample size needed to confirm these results.